Author: Elizabeth Blessing
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Flagstar breach victims can seek about $60 cash or up to $25,000 for losses by August 11
People whose information was involved in covered Flagstar data breaches have a time-limited choice to make. A proposed class-action settlement offers several benefits, including an estimated cash payment and reimbursement for documented losses. Claims must be filed by August 11, 2026, and payment is not guaranteed until the court process is complete. First confirm that…
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Free File vs. Paid Software: Who Actually Qualifies
IRS Free File covers taxpayers with 2025 income of $89,000 or less, yet many pay for software anyway. Here is who qualifies and how to use it.
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Security Deposits: The Rules for Getting Yours Back
Your security deposit is your money, and state laws put deadlines and receipts requirements on landlords. Here is how to get it back, step by step.
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Renting Out a Room: The Tax Rules Nobody Mentions
Rent a room in your home and the IRS has rules for you, including one that makes short rentals tax-free. Here is how the 14-day rule and Schedule E work.
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Opting Out of Overdraft: What Changes at the Register
Federal rules make debit-card overdraft coverage opt-in, not automatic. Here is what actually happens at the register when you say no, and how to check your status.
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Social Security for Divorced Spouses: The 10-Year Rule
Married 10 years before divorcing? You may qualify for Social Security on your ex’s record, worth up to half their benefit, without affecting their check.
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The 2027 Social Security COLA: What Early Numbers Show
April’s inflation data pushed one early 2027 COLA estimate to 3.9%, up from this year’s 2.8%. It’s a forecast, not a promise. Here’s the math behind it.
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Budget Billing: How Level Utility Payments Work
Budget billing turns lurching utility bills into one level monthly payment. How the averaging works, what the true-up month means, and who it helps.
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FTC Refund Checks Are Real: How to Tell (and Cash Them)
The FTC mailed hundreds of millions in refunds last year, and real checks expire in 90 days. How to verify yours is genuine before you toss or cash it.
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Your Final Paycheck: What Employers Owe and When
When must your last paycheck arrive after you quit or get fired? Federal law says next payday; some states say same day. Here’s who owes what, and when.
